Bank protector



' April 16, 1929. D CURTIS v1,709,522

' BANK PROTECTOR vFiled Mayas. 1927 v 2 sneetsfsher 1 //4?` A x if o y l?, j:

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Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES H D CURTIS, OF MCCONNELSVILLE, OHIO.

BANK lPROTECTOR.

Application filed May 23,

This invention relates to a device for preventing burglars from robbing banks and the like through the Windows of the tellers, the general object of the invention being to provide spring actuated closures for the windows, with latch means for normally holding the closures in open position and with means operated by the tellers or other persons for releasing the latch means to permit the closures to close the window openings and thus prevent the burglars from having access to the money within the tellers cages.

Another object of the invention is to make the closures of steel plates or the like so that the burglars cannot shoot or hold up7 the tellers through the Windows.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combina tion and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through the partition, and its windows, which separates the tellers from the patrons.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the inner side of the partition, with parts in section and with the closure in raised position.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Figure 1, with the closure in lowered position.

Figure 4 is a similar view with the closure in raised position.

In these views, A indicates the partition which separates the tellers of a bank or the like from the patrons and 2 indicates the window openings in the partition through which the tellers can pass money and other objects to the patrons and receive objects from the patrons. As is well known, burglar-s and other hold-up men usually stage their holdups through these windows, and it is the object of my invention to prevent this by providing means for closing the windows by steel plates or the like which will prevent the hold-up men from shooting the tellers and from taking money from the counters adj acent the windows.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a solid plate 1, preferably formed of steel, for closing each window, said plate beinoi vertically movable in guideways 3 formed in the 1927. Serial N0. 193,596.

posts 4 which form the sides of the window opening. A coiled spring 5 is placed in each post and has its upper end connected with a part of the post and its lower end connected to an ear 6 formed at each side of the plate 1 at the top thereof. These springs normally hold the plate in a position closing the window opening, with the top of the plate engaging a bumper strip 7 placed on the top wall of the window opening. A latch member 8 is pivoted to a bracket 9 fastened to the floor in rear of each window, and said latch member is adapted to engage a keeper recess 10 formed in the inner face of each plate to hold the plate in open position with its upper edge flush with the counter B so that money can be passed back and forth under the window grating 11 without interference on the part of the plate. An arm 12 is pivoted to each latch member 8 and a coiled spring 13 has one end connected to said arm and its other end to a part of the shelf, said spring tending to hold the arm and the latch member outwardly so that the latch member will be in releasing position. A shaft 14 is journaled in the brackets 9 and is connected by the gears l5 with a shaft 14: which extends adjacent another part of the partition, as shown in Figure 1. Each shaft carries a plurality of cams 16, one adjacent each window and a plurality of pedals 17, one adjacent each window. Vhen the shafts are rocked to a certain position, the cams will engage the arms 12, depressing the same against the action of their springs 13 and forcing the latch members 8 inwardly to cause them to engage the keeper recesses 10 of the plates 1, thus holding the plates in lowered position.

If a burglar should appear in front of a window and attempt to hold up the bank, it would simply be necessary for the teller to operate the pedal with his foot to cause the shafts to rotate and thus move the cams out of engagement with the arms 12 so that the springs 13 would act to move the latch members to releasing position and thus permit the springs 5 to close all the windows by raising the plates. This will prevent the burglar from seeing any of the tellers 0r person in rear of the partition as he will be entirely separated from them and he can thus do no harm.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the c01nto raise the slides, a latch pivoted at the loor bination and arrangement of the several level, a pivoted arm on the latch spring reparte, provided that such changes fall Within tracted rearwardly and upwardly, a cam on the scope of the appended claim. the rock shaft at the respective Windows, and 5 Vhat I claiin is a foot pedal to lift the caln and disengage the A bank protector comprising a rock shaft latch. behind the tellers Windows, bullet proof n testimony whereof I aHiX my signature. slides behind each Window, retracting springs H D CURTIS. 

